Israel has so far received no official notification of the visit to this country next month by Pope Paul VI, who announced yesterday at the closing session of the Ecumenical Council that he would make a pilgrimage to the Christian Holy Places in Jordan and Israel, it was reported here today. A press report that a Vatican emissary had come to Israel three weeks ago to discuss the visit was not confirmed here.
The Pope’s announcement came as a complete surprise to Israeli officials and–judging by the reaction of the Jordanian press–to the Jordan Government too. It is assumed here that the lack of any advance notification was due to the Vatican wish to give the visit the character of a pilgrimage, and to avoid any political implications.
Foreign Ministry officials said the Pope would be welcomed in Israel and would be received with the deference due his rank. A spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs called the forthcoming pilgrimage “an important event and a great religious act.”
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